Tips For Safe Roof Repair and Replacement In The Time of COVID-19

This is an article in the series adapting to the pandemic, where we intend to share useful tips for making it through these troublesome times.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted our everyday lives, but the fact remains that, with or without the coronavirus, things at home are bound to require some fixing or replacement.

Our roof, for example, is still subject to the harshest elements. It could develop leaks due to broken shingles or cracked flashing. Rotting may be affecting the decking. The roofing material may shrink.

There are so many things that could go wrong with our roof that we couldn’t help but wonder: Is it still possible to get a roof repair or replacement services in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Given the crucial role the roof plays in the structural safety of our homes and commercial buildings, roofing should be considered an essential business.

To this day, however, no clear guidelines have been issued about the roofing business. For now, whether roofers with proper contractors insurance coverage can operate or not depends on the state where they do business and the coronavirus restrictions and orders it has in place.

If your state allows roofing contractors to continue providing their services during COVID-19, here are some tips on how to go about roof repair or replacement safely.

No In-Person Consultation With Roofers

Fortunately, we now have the technology to find and hire with roofing contractors without meeting face-to-face, a critical component of the social distancing rules now considered as the new normal.

• Setting virtual appointments—A simple Google search will already yield a number of roofing contractors operating near you. Once you find a prospective roofer, schedule a virtual appointment where you can discuss everything about the job, including the roofing material you want, cost estimates for the project, and the COVID-19 protocols they follow.
• Roof inspection by satellite—Usually, a roofing contractor will come over to your home to check the dimensions of your roof or the type and extent of the damage. Today, roofers can measure your roof using satellite technology. You can also help by sending pictures of your roof’s damaged part via email, chat, or text. For your safety, never climb your roof to take those images. Photographs and videos are taken from the ground, a window, or a drone will suffice.
• Online platforms for all paperwork—Quotes, plans, schedules, timetables, payments, contracts, and other necessary paperwork can now be sent, signed, and completed using various available platforms online.

No-Contact Roofing Work

While everything else in the roof repair and replacement process can be done remotely, roofing contractors will still have to come over to your place to perform the actual roofing work.

There’s no need to worry, though. As long as you choose a roofing contractor that complies with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other health and safety organizations, your roofing repair or replacement project should move along without a hitch.

Typical COVID-19 safety protocols for roofers on-site may include the following:

• Daily temperature and symptom screening of workers, and barring those exhibiting symptoms or exposed to COVID-19 from working
• Mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE), which may include masks, gloves, and goggles
• COVID-19 supervisor on-site to ensure compliance with safety protocols
• No face-to-face contact between clients and roofing crew; phone or text communication only when necessary
• On-site sanitization stations
• Cleaning and sanitizing of the work area, tools, and other frequently-touched items
• No sharing or borrowing of tools and equipment
• Workers keeping a distance of more than six feet from each other, unless a task requires two or more people to carry it out

Some roofing contractors even bring their own portable toilet to ensure that their workers won’t have to enter your place to answer the call of nature. Of course, they will have to discuss this matter with you during your online consultations to see if you will allow a portable toilet into your premises.

Don’t Delay Roofing Repair or Replacement

It’s understandable to be worried about getting your roof repaired or replaced in the time of COVID-19. Experts may be understanding the coronavirus that causes the disease better with each passing day, but there is no working vaccine or cure for it just yet.

However, don’t let leaks or any sort of damage to your roof remain unaddressed due to COVID-19 fears. Roofing contractors are implementing measures to protect themselves and their clients, all to ensure that your roof will continue doing its job of protecting you and your family from the elements.